As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Wind farm construction 'cuts golden plover numbers by 80%'

15 April 2016

The construction of a wind farm
in Sutherland led to an 80% drop in the number of golden plovers in the area,
according to a five-year study.

Scientists have now said their
research project should be used as the basis for future studies on the effects
of wind farms on other bird species.

The study was funded by the
Gordonbush site's owners, energy company SSE, and conducted by RSPB Scotland.

SSE said it had tried to minimise
any potential risk to golden plovers.

The study monitored golden plover
numbers before, during and after construction.

According to the report, the drop
in numbers was greater than in areas surrounding the wind farm that were
studied over the same period.

Lead researcher Dr Alex Sansom
said: "Golden plovers breed in open landscapes and it is likely that the
presence of wind turbines in these areas leads to birds avoiding areas around
the turbines.

"This study shows that such
displacement may cause large declines in bird numbers within wind farms.

"It will be important to
examine whether these effects are maintained over the longer term at this site,
and we should also use these detailed studies to examine the effects of wind
farms on other bird species."

Golden plover, of which there are
believed to be between 38,000 and 59,000 breeding pairs in the UK, are
protected under the European
Birds Directive.

It places "great emphasis on
the protection of habitats" for 500 endangered and migratory species
across the European Union.

Aedan Smith, head of planning and
development for RSPB Scotland, said it was vital that wind farms "like any
development, are sited to avoid harming our most important places for
wildlife".